Iran Educates Russian Military Personnel Using Ballistic Missiles?

Iran's newest anti-ship cruise missile. (Doc. X/@IranDefense)

JAKARTA Rumors Iran will send ballistic missiles to Russia increasingly confirmed after two European intelligence sources revealed that dozens of Russian military personnel are now being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile system. They also added that the shipment of hundreds of weapons guided by these satellites to Russia for use in war in Ukraine is expected to occur soon.

According to intelligence officials to Reuters, quoted on August 10, who asked for their names not to be named, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense are believed to have signed a contract on December 13 in Tehran with Iranian officials for Fath-360 and another ballistic missile system built by the Iranian government-owned Aerospace Industry Organization (AIO) called Ababil.

Citing several secret intelligence sources, officials said Russian personnel had visited Iran to learn how to operate the Fath-360 defense system, which launched a missile with a maximum range of 120 km and a warhead of 150 kg. One of the sources said that "the only next possibility" after training was actual missile delivery to Russia.

Moscow has a number of its own ballistic missiles, but supplies of Fath-360 could allow Russia to use more of its weapons for targets beyond the front lines, while using Iranian warheads for close-range targets, a military expert said.

A spokesman for the United States National Security Council (US) said the United States and its NATO allies as well as its G7 partners were ready to respond quickly and harshly if Iran continued such transfers.

"It will represent a dramatic escalation in Iran's support for the war of Russian aggression against Ukraine," the spokesman said.

"The White House has repeatedly warned about deepening security partnerships between Russia and Iran since the start of Russia's massive invasion of Ukraine," he added.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official, who also asked for an unnamed name, said Iran had sold missiles and drones to Russia but had not provided the Fath-360 missile. There is no legal ban for Tehran to sell such weapons to Russia, the source added.

"Iran and Russia are involved in purchasing reciprocal parts and military equipment. How each country uses this equipment is entirely their decision," the official said, adding that Iran did not sell weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine's war.